Ironer



M2. 24, 39 0- e. w. WARDWELL, JR

IRONER Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l a W W ta. 0 m vW g, WH G t.24, 1 0- I e. w. WARDWELL. JR 2,215,489

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Inventor. George W WardwelLJn, 1 E.)

Hi; Attorn'gg.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES IRONER George W. Wardwell, Jr.,Nichols, Conm, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application September 18, 1937, Serial No. 164,529

9 Claims.

improved construction and arrangement in rotary ironers, and for aconsideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attentionis directed to the accompanying description and the claims appendedthereto.

perspective view of a rotary ironer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is anend view of the ironer showing the shoe pressed against the roll; Fig. 3is an end view of the ironer showing the shoe moved away from the roll;Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation of the ironer; Fig. 5-is anenlarged sectional view of the mechanism for moving the shoe toward andaway from the roll; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing theconstruction for supporting the ironer on the wringer post of a domesticwashing machine.

Referring to the drawings, the ironer comprises a frame I on which issupported a roll 2, a shoe 3, and the mechanism for driving the roll andfor moving the shoetoward and away from the roll. As shown in Fig. 6,the frame has a depending tubular portion 4 having a flange 5 at itslower end which rests on a collar 6 secured to I the upper end of thewringer post I of a domestic ward through the wringer post is a shaft 8which I is continuously driven by the washing machine mechanism. Theshaft is journaled in a bearing 3 fixed to the upper end of the wringerpost. Fixed on the end of the shaft is a pinion III which meshes with acrown gear I l keyed to a shaft l2 journaled'in bearings l3 in a boss l4in the side wall l4 of the frame. The frame has outwardly extendingwallsl5'providing a compartment or housing for the gears 10 and I I. The endwall of this compartment is provided by a removable closure plate [6.

The roll is of the construction shown in my application Serial No.64,480, filed Feb. 18, 1936. It comprises a sheet metal cylinder IT onthe outer surface of which is a pad l8 held in place 50 by a pad coverIS. The pad cover is held in In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a(Cl. 38-61)v At the center of the disks 22 and 23 are sleeves 25 and 26having outwardly extending flanges 21 and 28 respectively secured to thedisks 22 andv 23 and having sleeve bearings 29 and 30 respectively fixedtherein. The sleeve bearings 29 and 30 bear respectively on collars 3|and v32 which loosely surround a tube 33 fixed ina boss 34 in the sidewall of the ironer frame. The col lars 3| and 32 are non-rotatablysupported on the tube 33 in the manner shown at the right of Fig. 4.Within the tube 33are cup-shaped seats 35 and 36 having tubular shanks31 and 38 exten ing into diametrically opposite openings in the walls ofthe tube 33 arranged on a center line connecting the roll and shoe whenthe shoe is pressed against the roll. The shank 31 is s'lidable in itsopeningand the shank 38 is fixed in its opening. Extending through thetubular shanks 31- and 38 are pins 39 the upper ends of which fit inseats 40 in the inner'surface of the collars 3|. and 32 and the "lowerends of which extend through openings 4| in the collars and are flushwith the outer surfaces thereof. Between the seats 35 and 36 and aroundthe pins 39 are helical compression springs 42. The

springs 42 are strong enough to normally bias the collars 3| and 32upward so that the lower parts, i. e., the parts corresponding to thepart of collar 32 shown spaced from'the tube in Fig. 4, are normallyheld against the under side of the tube 33. The pressure from thesprings 42 is transmitted to the collars 3| and 32 through the shanks 31of the seats 35. The supporting arrangement for the collar 3| isidentical with the support for the collar 32.

When the shoe is away from the roll, the collars 3| and 32 will be urgedagainst the under side of the tube 33 and the roll will occupy theposition as shown in Fig. '3. In this position an internal gear 43 whichis fixed to the flange 24, for example, by screws 44 threaded into thegear from the outside of the cylinder ll, will be out of mesh with apinion 45 fixed to the continuously driven shaft l2. When the shoe ispressed against the roll the pressure of the shoe on the roll overcomesthe relatively weak springs 42 and moves the roll transversely withrespect to the tube 33 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In thisposition the internal gear 43 meshes with the pinion 45 completing adriving connection to the roll. Since the springs 42 are relativelyweak, rotation of the roll is started before full ironing pressure isdeveloped between the roll and the shoe. This decreases the startingload on the roll.

As the internal gear is moved into mesh with the pinion 45 there is apossibility of clashing of the gear teeth." This tendency for clashingis increased by the fact that the pinion 45 is an external gear with theteeth extending radially outward and the gear 43 is an internal gearwith the teeth extending radially inward. It is, therefore, possible fora pair of teeth on the pinion to straddle a pair of teeth on theinternal gear. Under this condition further approach of the gear teethwould cause serious jamming. This tendency for clashing or jamming ofthe gear teeth is prevented by the yieldable mounting for the rollprovided by the collars 3| and 32. As the internal gear is moved intomesh with the pinion 45, if the teeth are in a position to causejamming, the right end of the roll, as shown in Fig. 4, will pause inits movement while the left end of the roll will continue its movement.During the pause in the movement of the right end of the roll the teethof the continuously rotating pinion 45 will move to a position in whichthe teeth may mesh without jamming.

Under some circumstances it is desirable that the roll remain stationarywhen the shoe is pressed against the roll. This is accomplished bymoving a block 46 between the collar 32 and the upper side of the tube33 when the shoe is away from the roll. Under this condition, the upperside of the collar 32 will be spaced from the upper side of the tube 33to perinit insertion of the block 46. The block 46 prevents movement ofthe collar 32 transverse to the tube 33 and thereby holds the internalgear 43 out of mesh with the pinion 45 when the shoe is pressed againstthe roll. The block 46 is carried on a slide 41 which pro: jects betweenthe tube 33 and the collar 3! to the outer end of the roll. A handle 48is provided on the outer end of the slide. The slide is provided with aslot 49 through which the pin 39 of the collar 3| projects and a slot 56through which extends a screw 50 The head of the screw 50 overlaps theends of the slot 58 preventing displacement of the slide.

The inner end of the roll is closed by a guard plate 5| fitting over theboss 84 which covers the teeth of the gears 43 and 45. Lengthwisemovement of the roll is prevented by a thrust washer 52 mounted betweenthe inner end of the boss 34 and the flange 28 and by a thrust washer 53pinned to the outer end of the tube 33 and bearing against the flange21.

The construction of the shoe is shown in Fig. 4. It comprises an arcuatemetal plate 54 having studs 55 welded to its rear surface around whichare arranged sleeves 56. A cover plate 51 is clamped between the sleeves56 and cap nuts threadedon the studs. Between the cover plate and therear surface of the plate 54 are arranged suitable electric heatingunits (not shown). At the center of the shoe is a U-shaped bracket 58fixed to a strip 59 and clamped between the cover plate and two of thesleeves 56. Between the arms of the bracket 58 extends a U-shapedbracket 60 the arms of which are welded to a sleeve 6| keyed to a shaft62. The brackets 58 and 60 are pivotally connected by a pin 63 passingthrough the arms of the brackets and held in place by snap rings 64.There is sufiicient clearance between the pin 63 and the bracket armsso' that the shoe may have a tilting movement sufiicient to equalize thepressure between the shoe and the roll. The sleeve 6| is held on theshaft 62 between a shoulder 65 and a snap ring 66. The brackets 58 and60, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprise the links of a toggle for movingthe shoe toward and away from the roll. When the shoe is pressed againstthe roll the rock shaft 62 and the common pivot'point of the togglelinks, the pin 63, he slightly below a center line passing through theshoe and the roll. When the shoe is away from the roll, as shown in Fig.3, the pivotal movement of the bracket 58 is limited by ears 6'! struckout of the side walls of the bracket 68.

As the shoe is moved into engagement with the roll, the rotation of theroll starts, as explained above, before the development of full ironingpressure. The friction exerted on the shoe by the roll tends tostraighten the toggle decreasing the force required ,to press the shoeagainst the roll.

The shoe operating shaft 62 is journaled at one end in an arm 68projecting from the ironel' frame I. along the roll and has sufficientresilience to equalize the pressure between the roll and the shoe due tovariations in the thickness of the pad on the roll and of the materialbeing ironed. Lengthwise movement of the shaft 62 in its hearing isprevented by a pin 69 bearing on a thrust Washer 10 and by an arm 'llpinned to the shaft. The arm ll serves as a crank arm for oscillatingthe shaft 62. In the outer end of the arm H is a bolt 12 (Fig. 5) onwhich is pivoted a connecting rod 13. The connecting rod is arrangedbetween washers 14 and '15 on the bolt 12 and the sides and opening inthe connecting rod around the bolt 12 are tapered as at 16 and H topermit pivotal movement of the connecting rod '13 about axesperpendicular to the bolt 12. The other end of the connecting rod l3 hasa pin 18 fixed therein which is slldable in an opening 19 in a crankloosely mounted on a reduced portion 8! of the shaft l2. The crank isheld on the shaft by a screw 82 threaded into the end of the shaft. Theinner surface of the crank 80 bears against a disk 83 fixed to the shaftI2, for example by threading the hub 84 of the disk on a threadedportion 85 of the shaft. The hub 84 of the disk projects through anopening 86 in the cover plate l6. As shown in Fig. 4 the hub 84 engagesthe outer surface of the crown gear II and holds it in place on theshaft. In the disk 83 are series of openings 81 of the same size as theopening 19 in the crank 80. A leaf spring 88 arranged between theconnection rod '13 and the crank 80 biases the connecting rod to aposition in which the pin 18 is clear of the openings 81. In thisposition the connecting rod is held against the inner surface of a plate89 having an angular portion 90 fixed to the outer end of the frame arm68. The plate 89 is provided with a stiffening rib 9!. In this position,the pin 18 fits in one of two slots or notches 92 and 92 in the plate 85as shown in Fig. 5. The notches 92 and 92 are located in positionscorresponding to the positions of the connecting rod shown in Figs. 2and 3. In either of these positions the connecting rod 13 isdisconnected from the shaft l2 and accordingly remains at rest.

To establish a driving connection between the shaft 12 and theconnecting rod 13, the connecting rod is moved toward the disk 83 untilthe pin 18 enters one of the openings 81 in the disk, thus connectingthe crank 80 to the disk. In this position the other end of the pin 18is clear -of the slots 92 and 92. The arrangement shown for The free endof the shaft 62 extends moving the connecting rod I3 into engagementwith the disk 83 comprises a lever 93 pivoted between arms 94 fixed tothe outside of the plate 89. Screws are threaded through the armcpposite the slots 92 and 92 the inner ends of which provide stops orabutments for engaging the pin I8 and moving it into one of the holes 81in the disk 83. stud 91 biases the lever 93 to the position shown inFig. 5 in which the screws 95 are out of contact with the pin 18, theoutward movement being limited by a pin 98 in the stud. Upon movement ofthe lever 93 toward the disk 83 one of the screws 95 will engage the endof the pin 18 and move it out of the slot 92 or 92 and into one of theopenings 81 in the disk 83 connectin the crank 89 to the disk 83. Sincethere are a larger number of openings 81 there is no perceptible delayin making this connection. The slots 92 and 92' are provided withinclined cam surfaces 99 which cooperate with the end of the pin I8 andforce it into the openings 81 in case the pin is not initially moved farenough. As soon as the crank 89 has rotated to a position in which thepin 18 is no longer opposite one of the slots 92 or 92* the pin will beheld in the driving position by the face of the plate 89 which preventsoutward movement of the pin. The lever 93 may, therefore, be released.As soon as the crank has rotated through the pin 18 will be opposite oneof the slots 92 or 92 and will be moved therein by the spring 88breaking the connection between the crank 89 and the disk 83. Thearrangement shown provides a convenient arrangement for rotating thecrank 89 in steps of The slots 92 and 92 are placed so that theconnecting rod is moved between the'positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Inthe position shown in Fig. 2, the shoe is pressed against the roll.Since the roll is rotating in a clockwise direction in order to feed thematerial-being ironed beneath the shoe, the friction exerted on the shoeby the roll tends to turn the shaft 62 in a counterclockwise direction.This force would tend to move the connecting rod 13 in the direction ofthe arrow I99. Such movement is prevented bythe fact that the crank 89lies along the axis of the connecting rod 13 and is connected to theconnecting rod by the pin 18.

It is to be noted that since the toggle links 58 and 69 aresubstantially in alignment, and since the force of friction on the shoetends to straighten the toggle, very little force is required from theconnecting rod 13 to press the shoe against the roll. From anotheraspect, this means that the disengagement of the pin 18 fromthe disk 83will be correspondingly small. When the parts are in the position shownin Fig. 3 the force of gravity acting on the shoe to turn the shaft 62in a counterclockwise direction and therefore tends to move theconnecting rod in the direction of the arrow I9l. Such movement isprevented by the fact that the crank 89 lies along the axis of theconnecting rod 13. The crank is, therefore, in effect on dead center.Furthermore, movement of the connecting rod in the direction of thearrow I9! would be prevented by engagement of the pin 18 with the edgesof the slot 92 In the use of the ironer the material to-be ironed isarranged on the surface of the roll while the shoe is separated from theroll. In this position the internal gear 43 is separated from the pinion45 and the'roll is accordingly stationary. The lever 93 is then actuatedto move the pin 18 A coil spring 96 arranged around out of the slot 92and into one of the openings 81 in the disk 83 connecting the disk 83 tothe crank 89. As soon as the crank has rotated to a position in whichthe pin is no longer opposite the slot 92 the lever 93 may be releasedand the pin will be held in the driving position by the inner surface ofthe plate 89. When the crank 89 has moved through 180 and the pin hasmoved through 180 the pin is moved into the slot 92 breaking theconnection between the disk 83 and the crank 89. The parts now occupythe positionshown in Fig. 2 in which the shoe is pressed against theroll. In this condition the roll occupies the position shown in Fig. 4in which the internal gear is in mesh with the pin 45 and the roll isaccordingly rotated. Upon completion of the ironing, actuation of thelever 93 in the manner described above will cause rotation of the crank89 to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the shoe is separated fromthe roll.

What I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and ashoe, a shaft, means supporting the shaft for rotation on its axis, atoggle forming the sole means for supporting one of the ironing memberson the shaft and for moving it into and out of engagement with the otherironing member, said toggle comprising a link fixed to said shaft and asecond link pivoted to the first link and connected in supportingrelation to the supported ironing member, the common pivot point of saidlinks and the shaft lying substantially on a center line connecting theironing members when the ironing members are in engagement, and powermeans having connections for selectively rotating theshaft on its axisand for rotating the roll.

2. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame having provisions forsupporting the roll, a rock shaft supported in the frame for rotation onits axis, a toggle forming the sole means for supporting the shoe on theshaft and for moving it into and out of engagement with the roll, saidtoggle comprising a link fixed to the shaft and a second link pivoted tothe first link and fixed to the shoe, the common pivot point of saidlinks and the rock shaft lying substantially on a center line connectingthe roll and the shoe when the roll and shoe are in engagement, andpower means having connections for selectively rotating the shaft on itsaxis and for rotating the roll.

3. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame having provisions forsupporting the roll, a rock shaft supported in the frame for rotation onits axis, a toggle forming the sole means supporting the shoe on theshaft and for moving it into and out of engagement with the roll, saidtoggle comprising a link fixed to the shaft and a second link pivoted tothe first link and fixed to the shoe, the common pivot point of saidlinks and the rock shaft lying substantially on a center line connectingthe roll and the shoe when the roll and shoe are in engagement, powermeans for oscillating the shaft on its axis whereby the shoe is movedtoward and away from the roll and for rotating the roll, and meanscontrolling thedriving connection between said power means and the rollto start the roll prior to the development of full ironing pressurebetween the roll and the shoe, the direction of movement "of the togglebeing such that the force of the friction exerted on the shoe by theroll assists in straightening thle toggle and pressing the shoe againstthe ro 4. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame at one end of the rollhaving provisions for supporting the roll, a rock shaft journaled at oneend in the frame for rotation on its axis and having its free endextending along the roll, said shaft having sufficient resilience toequalize the pressure between the roll and the shoe under varyingironing conditions, a toggle forming the sole means for supporting theshoe and for moving it into and out of engagement with the roll, saidtoggle comprising a link fixed to the shaft and a second link pivoted tothe first link and fixed to the shoe, the common pivot point of saidlinks and the rock shaft lying substantially on a center line connectingthe roll and the shoe when the roll and shoe are in engagement, andpower means having connections for selectively rotating the shaft on itsaxis and for rotating the roll.

5. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and ashoe, power driving means including a driven shaft, a connecting rodbeyond an end of said shaft connected to one of said ironing members forefiecting engagement and separation of said ironing members uponreciprocation thereof, crank means having connections to said shaft andconnecting rod for reciprocating the connecting rod, manually operablemeans for establishing the connection between the crank means and theconnecting rod, means for automatically breaking said connection upon apredetermined reciprocation of the connecting rod, and a drivingconnection between the driving means and the roll for rotating the roll.

6. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and ashoe, 2. rock shaft supported for rotation on its axis, a toggle formingthe sole means for supporting the shoe on the rock shaft and for movingit into and out of engagement with the roll, said toggle comprising alink fixed to said shaft and a second link pivoted to the first link andconnected in supporting relation to the shoe, the common pivot points ofsaid links and the rock shaft lying substantially on a center lineconnecting the ironing members when the ironing members are inengagement, and power means for rotating the roll and for selectivelyoscillating the rock shaft on its axis, the direction of rotation of therock shaft to press the shoe against the roll being such that the forceof friction exerted on the shoe by the roll assists in pressing the shoeagainst the roll.

7. In an ironer, a roll, power means for rotating the roll, a rockshaft, a connecting rod, means connecting the connecting rod to theshaft for efiecting oscillation of the shaft upon reciprocation of theconnecting rod, a crank for reciprocating the connecting rod, a shoe,and means for supporting the shoe on the shaft whereby the shoe is movedtoward and away from the roll by oscillation of the shaft, saidsupporting means being constructed and arranged so that the frictionexerted on the shoe by the rotating roll tends to turn the shaft in adirection to cause the connecting rod to be under tension.

8. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and ashoe, power driving means including a driven shaft, 8. connecting rodbeyond an end of said shaft connected to one of said ironing members foreffecting engagement and separation of said ironing members uponreciprocation thereof, a crank loose on the shaft, a clutch disk fixedto the shaft and having a series of openings therein, a pin fixed in theconnecting rod and providing a pivotal connection to the crank, one endof said pin being slidable into one of said openings upon lateralmovement of the connecting rod, means for biasing the connecting rod toa position in which the pin is clear of said openings and a plateengaging the other end of said pin for holding the pin in said openings,said plate having notches permitting movement of the pin out of saidopenings upon a predetermined rotation of the crank.

9. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and ashoe, power driving means including a driven shaft, 2. disk fixed to theshaft connected to one of said ironing members having a series ofopenings therein, a crank loose on the shaft, a connecting rod foreffecting engagement and separation of said ironing membersuponreciprocation thereof, a pin extending through the crank andproviding a pivotal connection between the crank and the connecting rod,means for moving one end of said pin into one of the openings in thedisk for connecting the crank to the shaft, means for holding the pin insaid opening during a predetermined rotation of the crank, and automaticmeans for disengaging the pin from said opening upon completion of saidpredetermined rotation of the crank.

GEORGE W. WARDWELL, J R.

